Garbage disposal unit



Jan. 11, 1955 A. SELMER 2,699,368

GARBAGE DISPOSAL UNIT Filed 001;. 15, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR; 141 0/6 SELMf/Q ATTORNEY? United States Patent 2,699,368 GARBAGE DISPOSAL UNIT Alois Selmer, New York, N. Y. Application October 13, 1952, Serial No. 314,460 Claims. (Cl. 312-270) This invention relates to improvements in garbage disposal units.

It is an object of the instant highly sanitary garbage disposal unit.

further object is to disclose a garbage disposal unit that is out of the way when not in use.

Another object is to disclose a garbage disposal unit that automatically moves to the open position.

Other objects of the instant invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In the attainment of the aforesaid objectives, the improved garbage disposal unit is constituted of a horizontal platform inserted in back of a rectangular opening formed in the front of a kitchen cabinet at the bottom. On the platform is a slideway and on the slideway is a carriage rectractile through the rectangular opening. A garbage container of special design is removably inserted in the carriage. On the carriage is a front member which closes the rectangular opening in the cabinet in the retracted position.

The carriage is automatically moved through the rectangular opening by spring tension means under the control of a foot lever. Prior to the release of the carriage, the foot pedal also lifts a sealed cover member upwardly from the top of the container where it is held in the elevated position until the front member reseats the cover over the container in the retracted position.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing by way of example the preferred embodiment of the inventive concept.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the garbage disposal unit constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention with the garbage container in the extended position;

Figure 2 is a side invention to provide a elevational view in part section of the garbage disposal unit shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevational of the garbage disposal unit shown in Figure 1 with a portion broken away and with the garbage container in the retracted position;

Figure 4 is a sectional view along 4-4 of Figure 3, but on an enlarged scale; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view along 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings where like reference numerals indicate like parts, reference numeral indicates the kitchen cabinet, and 11 the garbage disposal unit.

The kitchen cabinet 10 may be any of the known types and in the front of which adjacent the bottom is a rectangular opening 12 (Fig. 5).

The garbage disposal unit 12 platform 13, the carriage 14, the and the cover 16 (Figs. 1 and 2).

The platform 13 is disposed in the kitchen cabinet 10 adjacent the bottom of the rectangular opening 12. On the platform 13 is a horizontal slideway 17 (Fig. 3) aligned with the rectangular opening 12 at the bottom. The slideway 17 may be constituted of spaced Ushaped members as most clearly seen in Figure 3, and any suitable means may be used for fastening the U-shaped member to the platform. In the platform and substantially along the longitudinal center line of the aforementioned slideway is a slit 18 (Fig. 4). In the slit 18 is a catch 19 (Figs. 3 and 4). One end of the catch 19 is pivotally secured in the inner end of the slit by any is constituted of the garbage container 15,

suitable pivot pin 20 (Fig. 4) while on the free end of the catch is an upwardly directed and integrally formed member 21. The member 21 is maintained above the plane of the platform 13 by the spiral spring 22 (Fig. 4) sltlacured between the platform and the free end of the catc The carriage 14 is constituted of the spaced parallel side members 23 and 24, the top member 25, the bottom member 26 in spaced parallel arrangement with the top member, and the front member 27. All the members are secured together in a known manner. The bottom member 26 has a downwardly directed protuberance 28 (Fig. 4) for coaction with the aforesaid member 21 and in the top member 25 is a circular opening (Fig. 2) for the removable insertion of the later described garbage container 15. It is important that the container remain in a given position relative to the later described cover member 16. Hence a downwardly directed holder 61 (Fig. 2) for the garbage container may be secured in the top member around the periphery of the circular opening formed therein. The front member 27 is so dimensioned that it will cover the aforementioned rectangular opening 12 in the retracted position of the carriage. The bottom edges of the side members 23 and 24 are designed for removable insertion in the slideway 17 and may be equipped with the similar friction reducing wheels on both sides at the back, one of the wheels being designated by the reference numeral 29 (Fig. 2) while the slideway itself may also have the similar wheels 30 and 31 (Fig. 3) at the front. At the back of the carriage on both sides are the similar hinged members 32 and 33 (Fig. 2 and 5) which coact with the stationary spring stops 34 and 35, respectively, when the carriage is released for movement through the opening 12 to the extended position of the garbage container. Even with the hinged members folded inwardly, the carriage is substantially through the opening, the wheels at the back of the carriage can be removed from the slideway and the carriage released.

The garbage container 15 is a hollow cylindrical body witl closed bottom and to e mentioned holder 61. A handle memtially sealed in the retracted position of the carriage by the following described cover member 16.

The cover member 16 is a cylindrical disc designed to be fitted over the open top of the container when in the retracted position. Around the periphery of the disc are the outwardly directed and spaced ears 37, 38, and 39 (Figs. 1 and 2). On the bottom of the disc is a gasket 40 (Fig. 2) designed to seal the open top of the container when inserted thereover in the manner later described.

The mechanism for automatically moving the carriage through the rectangular opening 12 in the kitchen cabinet 10 after the cover 16 has been raised from the open top of the container is as follows: One end of a spiral spring 41 (Fig. 5) is attached to the platform 13 The carriage is releasably held in the retracted position with the spring under tension by the engagement of the protuberance 28 (Fig. 4) with the upwardly directed member 21 of the catch 19. A foot pedal 42 (Fig. 3) is pivotally inserted through the front of the kitchen cabinet with the power arm 43 of the lever protruding forwardly of the cabinet and with the weight arm (not shown) inwardly directed under the platform. Another lever 44 in a plane substantially at to the plane of the foot pedal is pivotally secured under the platform by any suitable means 45. The power arm 46 of the lever 44 is in operable engagement with the top of the weight arm of the foot pedal while the weight arm 47 of the lever 44 is pivotally secured to the catch 19 by any suitable means 48. Thus, by depressing the outwardly directed power arm of the foot pedal 42, the power arm 46 of the lever 44 will move upwardly and the weight arm 47 and free end of the catch 19 will move downwardly to release the protuberance 28 from the catch 19. Hence, the carriage 11 will, under the tension of the spring 41, move out of the cabinet through the rectangular opening 12 to the extended position of the garbage container 15 until the hinged members 32 and 33 are engaged by the stops 34 and (Figs. 2 and 5). As thus far described, the garbage disposal unit 11 is an operable structure adapted to be closed manually. However, to seal the open top of the container 15 in the retracted position and to raise the cover from the top of the container prior to the release thereof from the cabinet the following mechanism is also provided: Adjacent the top of the rectangular opening 12 and within the cabinet are three inwardly and downwardly directed hooks designed to coact with the three previously mentioned ears on the cover. Two of the hooks are designated by the reference numerals 49 and 50 in Figure 2 and the third (not shown) is opposite the hook 49. Any suitable means may be used for fastening the hooks in the manner described in the cabinet, the means illustrated being a frame inwardly and downwardly directed from cabinet above the rectangular opening. The hooks are designed to maintain the cover member 16 in an elevated position when raised from the top of the container prior to the release of the carriage from the cabinet as later shown. To raise the cover to the higher elevation of the hooks, two upstanding members 51 and 52 are provided and one end of each of which is slidably inserted through the platform 13. The slidably inserted end of the upstanding member 52 is pivotally attached to the power arm 46 of the lever 44 (Fig. 3) with the opposite end of the upstanding member slidably inserted through the ear 37 of the cover and finally slidably inserted through a slit 53 (Fig. 1) formed in a support or guide 54 secured in a horizontal plane to the kitchen cabinet in any suitable manner. A spring member 55 (Fig. 2) between the upwardly directed end extremity of the upstanding member 52 and a pin 56 in the support 54 urge the ears of the cover 16 toward the hooks for the support thereof when sufficiently elevated prior to the automatic movement of the container through the rectangular opening of the cabinet to the extended position. Of course, both sides of the cover must be raised simultaneously and to raise the opposite side, that is the side of the ear 39, another upstanding member 51, similar to the previously described upstanding member 52 is used. ,One end of the member 51 (Fig. 3) is slidably inserted through the platform 13 for pivotal connection to one end of another lever 57, similar to the previously described lever 44. The lever 57 is pivotally connected below the platform 13 by any suitable pivot pin 58 and in colinear arrangement with the previously described lever 44.

One end of the lever 57 is pivotally connected to the catch 19 by the pin 48 also securing the lever 44 thereto. Thus, when the foot pedal 42 is depressed both upstanding members 51 and 52 will be raised simultaneously. Similar brackets or flanges 59 (Fig. 2) on each upstanding member lift the cover to the elevation of the hooks when the pedal is depressed. By correlating the height of the brackets 59 in relation to the height of the member 21 of the catch 19, the cover is raised and pulled over on the books by the springs 55 prior to the release of the carriage from the kitchen cabinet. A wheel 60 (Figs. 1 and 2) placed on the top of the cover 16 and protruding forwardly thereof through the rectangular opening 12 will be engaged by the front member 27 in the retracted position of the carriage to force the cover off the hooks whereupon it will fall by gravity along the upstanding members 51 and 52 for reseating over the open top of the container.

The operation with the improved garbage disposal unit will be apparent from the foregoing detailed description.

While there is above disclosed but one embodiment of the improved garbage disposal unit, it will be underthe inner surface of the kitchen stood that other embodiments can also be formed within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A garbage disposal unit in combination with a cabinet having an opening formed therein, the unit comprising a platform disposed in the cabinet adjacent the opening at the bottom, said platform having formed thereon a horizontal slideway substantially aligned with the opening, a removable carriage reciprocable in the slideway and retractile through the opening, a garbage container holder disposed on said carriage, a garbage container with open top removably disposed in said holder, a cover member for the open top of said container, a spring disposed on said platform, the free end of said spring being in operable engagement under tension with said carriage when retracted in the cabinet, automatic locking means for said carriage in the retracted position, means for releasing said locking means, hinged stop means disposed intermediate said carriage and platform and operative when said carriage is moved out of the opening, means for raising said cover member from the open top of said container prior to the release of said carriage from said locking means, and means for lowering said cover member over the open top of said container when said carriage is retracted.

2. In a kitchen cabinet having a substantially rectangular opening formed therein adjacent the bottom thereof; a garbage disposal unit for said cabinet, said unit comprising a platform disposed in said cabinet adjacent the bottom of said opening, said platform having formed thereon a substantially horizontal slideway coacting with said rectangular opening, a removable carriage reciprocable in said slideway and retractile through said opening, said carriage comprising spaced parallel side members and a front member and a top member in spaced parallel arrangement with a bottom member, said members being secured together substantially along corresponding edges and said front member being adapted to close said rectangular opening in the retracted position of said carriage, said top member having a circular opening formed therein, a garbage container with open top removably disposed in said circular opening, a cover member for the open top of said container, means for raising and lowering said cover member over the open top of said container, spring tension means intermediate said platform and the inner end of said bottom member in the retracted position of said carriage,

means for releasing said carriage from said spring tension means subsequent to raising said cover member from the open top of said container, means coacting with said front member for lowering said cover member in the retracted position of said carriage, and hinged stop means intermediate said platform and carriage when said carriage is moved out of the opening by said spring tension means.

3. A garbage disposal unit for a kitchen cabinet, the cabinet having a rectangular opening formed in the front thereof adjacent the bottom; the garbage disposal unit comprising a horizontal platform disposed in the cabinet adjacent the bottom of said opening, said platform having formed thereon a horizontal slideway sub stantially aligned with the rectangular opening and further having formed therein a longitudinal slit substantially along the longitudinal center line of said slideway, a carriage removable and reciprocal in the slideway and retractile through the rectangular opening, said carriage comprising spaced parallel side members and a front member and a top member in spaced parallel arrangement with a bottom member, said members being secured together along corresponding edges, said front member being adapted to close the rectangular opening in the retracted position of said carriage, said bottom member having a downwardly directed protuberance formed thereon and extending through the slit, said top member having a circular opening formed therein and a downwardly directed holder removably disposed in the circular opening; the garbage disposal unit further comprising a garbage container with open top removably disposed in said holder, a handle member pivotally disposed on the inner surface of said container, a cover member with at least two spaced ears for the open top of said container, a seal coacting with the open top on said container disposed on said cover member, a catch for the protuberance extending through the slit, means for pivotally securing one end of the catch in the slit with the free end directed toward the rectangular opening and coacting with the protuberance, spring tension means for maintaining the free end of said catch under upwardly directed tension, means for releasing said catch from the protuberance, a spring disposed at the back of said platform and coacting with the inner end of said bottom member in the retracted position, hinged stop means disposed on each side of said carriage at the back, stationary stop means disposed on said platform at the front and coacting with said hinged stop means, means for raising said cover member from the open top of said over the open top of said container in the retracted position of said carriage.

4. A garbage disposal unit for a kitchen cabinet having an opening formed therein, a platform disposed in the cabinet adjacent the bottom he open top of said container, having a plurality of circumfercntially spaced ears formed around the periphery thereof, and means for raising said cover member from the open top of said container prior to the release of said catch from said carriage, said means comprising a foot lever, means for pivotally securing said foot lever in the front of the kitchen cabinet and below the platform, said foot lever having a power arm and a weight arm, the power arm protruding forwardly of the kitchen cabinet and the weight arm being extended under the platform, a second lever pivotally disposed on the bottom of the platform at substantially 90 to said foot lever, means for pivotally securing one end of said second lever to the catch with in spaced colinear arrangement with the second mentioned lever, means for said third mentioned lever to the catch,

the foot pedal is depressed, said upstanding members ed through the platform and through the ears of said cover member, a flange disposed on each upstanding member and riage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

